Camp at Little Molas Lake

Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park & Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are headed to beforehand.

The Little Molas Lake area is very high in elevation, with Coalbank and Molas passes reaching above 10,000 feet. Facilities are set in alpine and subalpine settings so you can expect and plan for unpredictable weather - snow and hail are common during summer thunderstorms. I suggest checking the weather and preparing for the worst just in case!

The unpaved road leading to this free and primitive campground is passable by 2WD passenger cars. Little Molas Lake features 10 campsites: 4 are double, 3 have hitching rails for stock animals, and 5 will accommodate RVs. Campers are limited to a 14 day stay as it is in most Forest Service campgrounds.

The campsites all have fire grates, but no tables. There are several spots where people have attempted to make dispersed campsites, but these are not recognized by the Forest Service and are detrimental to the land, so please refrain from using these sites if the campground is full - which may be the case during the busy season or on weekends. There is no drinking water or trash service offered so it's important to be prepared and to pack out what you pack in. Leave No Trace ethics are especially important in riparian environments as many damaging effects cannot be easily reversed here. It's also important to keep your food secure at night and when it is unattended as it can attract wildlife in the area.

There are toilets in the campground and at the trailhead for the Colorado Trail, but they are only available seasonally so I suggest being prepared! The trailhead for the Colorado Trail is located just past the campground, and has parking for both cars and horse trailers. The CT offers a wide variety of use from hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, etc. Parking for fishing and day use is offered near the lake.